CafePress.com sensors the word "Tesla".

So I tried ordering custom license plate frame that read " POOR MAN'S TESLA" to put on my Nissan Leaf as a joke. Order went through. Few hours later got an email that my order is canceled due to:

We recently learned that your CafePress account contains material which may not be in compliance with our policies. Specifically, designing, manufacturing, marketing and/or selling products that may infringe the rights of a third party, including, copyrights (e.g.,an image of a television cartoon character), trademarks (e.g., the logo of a company),"rights in gross" (e.g., the exclusive right of the U.S. Olympic Committee to use the "Olympic Rings"), and rights of privacy and publicity (e.g., a photo of a celebrity) are prohibited. Accordingly, we have set the content that we believe to be questionable to "pending status" which disables said content from being displayed in your shop or purchased. You may review the content set to pending status by logging into your CafePress account and clicking on the "Media Basket" link. The content set to pending status will be highlighted red.

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Replied asking if they censored use of word "Tesla". Their reply:

Dear AntronX,

Thank you for contacting CafePress!

I'm sorry, however the designs were placed in a pending state because of the use of the name of a automobile. We have received many notices from auto manufacturers that there may be an issue with portrayal of their vehicles on merchandise without authorization. We take such issues seriously, and for this reason automobile designs may be reviewed more stringently. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this has caused for you. No need to worry about your payment authorization being refunded as it was not processed due to the cancellation of your order.

For more information please see our Content Usage Policy at the below link.

Your ticket code is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Please use this code in any further communication.

Best Regards,

Betty B.
Content Usage Associate

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So there you have it. Looks like another nail in freedom of expression coffin due to egregious abuse of copyright. I know, first world problems and all, but this really irked me. I am going to CNC it myself then.

Doesn't matter whether Tesla is a name or a copyrighted term or not - its just easier (and cheaper) for them to crack down on their users when they get a complaint from a company. I design stuff for sale on several of those types of sites, and they are all the same in this regard. A company complains to them that people are infringing on their copyright, and the ban hammer comes down across the board. No way to protest the decision - you can just take your business elsewhere if you have a problem with it.

Usually it doesn't happen until the company in question complains, though. So its possible Tesla sent them a note if people were using the Tesla logo, etc.

I don't see license plate frames as falling under those Trademarks. The closest is "Automobiles and structural parts therefor".

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Right, but the license plate is just the medium.

The word Tesla is clearly not referring to a brand of license plate holder - it's referring to the car. Similarly, if you print it on paper it doesn't have to do with the brand of paper you're printing it on.

Context can also be implied. A while back a BMW dealer close to where I lived came out with a 3-series convertible with the tagline: "Hardware without Windows". The mere insinuation of what that meant put them in violation of the Windows trademark, and they had to take it down.

I doubt Tesla actually lodged a complaint here though. They probably had a bunch of complaints from other manufacturers, so they just blocked all of them.

So, CafePress agreed to print the frame with those words if I get them official permission from Tesla Motors. Hmm, anyone know someone on the inside? (Yes, I am that naive). Or should I go for the Hail Mary pass and spam Elon's twitter?

So, CafePress agreed to print the frame with those words if I get them official permission from Tesla Motors. Hmm, anyone know someone on the inside? (Yes, I am that naive). Or should I go for the Hail Mary pass and spam Elon's twitter?

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If you go the route of twittering, consider including another option for him: "... or make such frames available at Tesla stores".

Did you order this from some other Cafe Press store, or did you create your own CP store with this item, and then tried buying it yourself? If you just want a custom license plate frame, there are dozens of online places that will print anything you want without regard to trademark. The problem with CP is that they assume you're selling items for a profit, where you can't use a trademark without permission. But if you're just creating a one-off for yourself, no such laws/rules apply.

And you're going to need more than a tweet from Elon Musk before CP allows you to create such products -- like a certified letter from the lawyers at TM, which "ain't gonna happen".

Why not just get a blank license plate frame and print out the words on adhesive label paper?

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I can do that. But it's the restriction of my freedom to use some words is what really annoyed me. Basically I can put a sticker on blank frame and be fine, but I cannot pay $20 to cafepress to professionally engrave and paint same text into the same blank frame for me... Sad reality of overly legal society.

I can do that. But it's the restriction of my freedom to use some words is what really annoyed me. Basically I can put a sticker on blank frame and be fine, but I cannot pay $20 to cafepress to professionally engrave and paint same text into the same blank frame for me... Sad reality of overly legal society.

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I suppose. Until you invent something or come up with an idea or write a book or create a comic book character only to find others ripping off your work.

It's not a sad reality at all. It's just reality and people/companies have a right to protect their intellectual property.